"Will send us back to the battlefield": Critical outcry ahead of the derby at Bloomfield

The 'Battle Diamonds' forum calls on fans of Maccabi and Hapoel Tel Aviv to stop using firecrackers and fireworks that harm combat veterans. Meanwhile, the police are preparing for the Toto Cup final with 1,000 officers and security personnel and a blanket ban on flares.

The 'Battle Diamonds' forum, part of the 'Diamonds for Life' association, issued an urgent appeal today (Wednesday) to the league administration, both clubs, and fans, demanding a complete halt to the use of fireworks and firecrackers at Bloomfield Stadium during the Tel Aviv derby in the Toto Cup final tomorrow (Thursday, 8:30 PM). The forum explains that sudden explosion sounds trigger anxiety attacks, flashbacks, and severe post-traumatic reactions among thousands of combat veterans, including soldiers returning from the battles of the 'Swords of Iron' war. Eitan Aliev from the forum said: "One explosion sound can send us back to the battlefield in an instant." Meanwhile, the police are preparing a large-scale operation with 1,000 security personnel, a ban on flares and decorations, and deployment of cellular antennas to prevent network collapse.